Sheet clipping and classifying apparatus



5 Sheets-Sheet l N E u.

Dale L. .Schu berf ATTORNEYS lwlilslslslsl lsl 3 E" k E E A A JWD\ h miwln lwn hm uh NQ :w vn

Jan. 19, 1954 D. sc'HuBERT SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1948 Jan. 19, 1954 D. L. SCHUBERT SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1948 PIE 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIE. 3

n III-ME}! I D INVENTOR. Dale L SchuberT ATTO/{NEYS D. L. SCHUBERT SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Jan. 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1948 INVENTOR. Dale L. Schuberf 1 h IQrIIIIIIIII ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1954 D. L. SCHUBERT 2,666,484

SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR .Da/ L; Sc/aaberf ATTORN'EY5Z INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DALE L.SCHUBERT,

ATTORNEYS BY I D. L. SCHUBERT SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS ooeo o6aooooo Jan. 19, 1954 Filed June 15, 1948 l atented Jan. 19, 1954 SHEET CLIPPING AND CLASSIFYING APPARATUS Dale L. Schubert, Tacoma, Wash, assignor to Plywood Research Foundation, Tacoma, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application J unc 15, 1948, Serial No. 33,050

6 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet clipping and classifying apparatus, and particularly to improvements in means for selectively controlling the classifying or sorting devices in such apparatus. In its preferred form, the invention relates specifically to apparatus for clipping continuous sheets of wood veneer into individual sheets of varying sizes and sorting such individual sheets according to size, or according to size and grade.

The invention applies to that type of apparatus known in the art as a Coe clipper, this type of apparatus being fully described in United States Patents 1,753,967, issued April 8, 1930, to Thomas Robinson, and 2,005,824, issued June 25, 1935, to

George Haumann. Such devices include a reciprocable knife for cutting the sheet, an endless in-feeding conveyor arranged to carry the continuous sheet to the knife, and an off-bearing conveyor on the delivery side of the knife to receive the individual sheets as they are cut from the continuous web. Arranged beside the infeeding conveyor and synchronized therewith is an endless control chain provided with a plurality of actuating dogs which may be moved manually from an inactive position to an active position. These actuating dogs are spaced along the control chain at given intervals, such as 2'f. lhe knife is provided with suitable power means which may be set into action by an electrical switch, as seen in the Robinson patent mentioned above, or the knife may be actuated in response to a purely mechanical control member, as seen in the Haumann patent mentioned above. In either case,

the control member which initiates operation of the knife is positioned in the path of the actuating dogs carried bythe control chain in such a manner that only those dogs which have been moved to active position will actuate the control member to cause the knife to cut.

Such clippers have the advantageof permitting selected cuts in multiples of a set unit, as 2", and the exact width of the cut-depends upon the manual manipulation of selected dog means by the operator. Primarily the operation of clippers of this nature clips the pieces to the largest size up to a maximum predetermined width, as 52", and the exact width of any particular piece depends entirely upon the conditions of the wood as determined by the operator. These pieces of veneer stock, of heterogeneous widths are now manually sorted as, for example, pieces of scrap, pieces of usable heart stock having a width of not over 14' ,-pieoes of usable sap stock having a width of not over 14', pieces of usable heart stock hav- 'ing a width from 16" to 26", pieces of usable sap stock having a width of 16 to 26", pieces of usable heart stock having a width from 28" to 40'', pieces of usable sap stock having a width of from 28" to 40", pieces of usable heart stock having a width of from 40" to 52", and pieces of usable sap stock having a width of 40" to 52".

As the pieces being clipped are clipped to units having multiples of a common unit, as 2", the multiplicity of widths involved does not make the sorting easier when the sorting is done manually. Of course the advantage of cutting to the width determined by the stock itself is that all usable stock is preserved for the best use to which it can be put.

Broadly stated, the present invention provides means applicable to the type of sheet clipping apparatus just described and capable of sorting the cut sheets from the clipper according to size, or according to size and grade, such sorting being accomplished automatically in response to manual operation of the actuating dogs. Thus, the same manual operation which determines the position of the out also controls the sorting or classifying operation.

In this respect, the invention is similar to that described in copending application, Serial Number 770,540, filed August 25, 1947, by Harold R. Evans and Dale L. Schubert, and now Patent 2,497,874, issued February 21, 1950. The overall purpose of the invention there described is similar to that of the present invention, and the advantages of and need for mechanical sorting of the cut pieces is there set out in detail. The apparatus employed in the invention set forth in the aforesaid copending application is not applicable to the Coe clipper, however, since it provides no control means capable of operation by the.

- and 2,905,824.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with others inherent in the same are attained by the devices set forth in the following drawings, throughoutwhich likereference numerals indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the control chain and clipper control switch of a clipper apparatus of the type disclosed in the aforesaid ,Patent 1,753,967, in combination with a series of illustrating a modification of the adapted for sorting in accordance with both size andgrade.

" ent.

disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,005,824,'in.

combination with a series of sorter control switches arranged in accordance with the-present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrical circuit in accordance with the invention, said circuit embodying the sorter control switches illustrated in Figs. 1-4;

Fig. 5 is. a schematic diagram similar to Fig. 4, invention Fig.6 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pin selectors employed in connection with "Fig. 5 and taken substantially on broken line6 6 "Figs. 5, 6' andl;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the "'outbearing conveyor, transfer or classifying conveyors, and transfer conveyor control means employed in a sheet clipper in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view, with some parts'illustrated diagrammatically, showin one embodiment of the invention incorporated ina 'sheet clipper of the type described in the aforementioned Patent 2,005,824.

Referring first to Figure l of the drawings, some of the parts illustrated are parts from Fig.4 of the patent to Thomas Robinson, i0 is a contact dog which was numbered 7 in said Robinson patent,

II is a lever which was numbered 8 in Robinson, 12 are pins which were numbered 61 in Robinson, l3 and I4 are positioning bars and were numbered 62 and 63in Robinson, [5 are rollers which were numbered 6-i in Robinson, i6, ii and 18 are fingers which were numbered 70, '71 and '72 in said pat- !9 is a pivot means for the lever l l and said pivot means was numbered 80 insaid patent. Insulating block 20, spring bar2l, contact-members 22 'and"23, screw 24,. insulating bar '25, con- "ductors 26 andfl, and seale'28 are numbered respectively in said patent 82 to 89"inclusive,:iand

or dogs [8, in addition to actuatin the clipper control, also preselect the operation of sorter conveyors through suitable time delay means. The

"time delay means, and the sorter control circuits *dominated'by the time delay means, may be'of thetype shown in the'aforementioned copending therefore theyare'given similar numbers.

' apart'at a selected unit, as 2".

4 application, Serial Number 770,540. Such a time delay means includes a grooved drum '56, Fig. 4, rotated in a given speed relation to the outbearing conveyor. A plurality of switch operating lugs 82 are positioned in the groove 83 of the drum, there being sufficient frictional engagement between the lugs and drum to cause the lugs to be carried with the drum unless they are held stationary by the electromagnetieally controlled catches 'll. As seen in Fig. 9, a sorter conveyor actuating switch H5 is positioned adjacent each groove of the drum, so that a lug released by action of one of the catches T! will actuate one of these switches, depending upon which catch 11 acts, and will thus cause operation of one of the sorter conveyors It-l l8, Figs.

9-10. The time delay between actuation of the cat-ch '11 and actuation of the sorter conveyor is of course determined by the length of time re- .quired for the lug 82 to travel from the catch to the switch.

'InFig. 1 herein there is'shown' a plurality of switches. Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings there are indicated somewhat schematically switches 29 to 55 inclusive. Some of these switches or'fragments of some of these switches appear on Fig. 1 of-the drawings, as switches 29,60, 33,40, M542, /46, 52 and 53. The

switches 29 to "55 inclusive each has a finger or switch operating lever 57. These switches are mounted on the mainframe'ES of the machine said switches to complete a circuit to a selected selector means.

This 1 circuit arrangement will be explained in connection with Fig. 4 of the drawings herein.

Thus, in Fig. 1 of the drawings there is indicated 'a chain which is not only used as indicated by Robinson to control the clipping of veneer but which is employed to actuate the switches 29 to 55 inclusive.

Referring now to Fig.2 of the drawings, there is shown a fragment of Fig. 5 of the said patent to Haumann and there is added thereto devices embodying the present invention. The switches shown inFig. 2 maybe the same switches as thoseemployed in connection with Fig. land These switches are carried by the main frame 59. This mainframe-59 bears the number 10 in the patent toI-Iaumann. Chain 60, fingers 6i, and castings 62 bearnumbers 62, 65 and 54 respectively in said patent.

In theI-Iaumann patent the fingers 6 I, as numbered herein, operate through mechanical means to control the'operation of clipper mechanism. The fingers 6 i, like the fingers 18, are spaced The chain of Fig. l or the chain of Fig. 2 travel synchronously with the moving sheet of veneer and the operatorman- 'ually trips a desired finger to 'preselect the location of the line of cut. At the same time the said fingers, when they pass the switches 29 to 55 inclusive, preselect the operation of-the selector means'as'will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to "Fig. 3 of the drawings, a

"chain is illustrated which is of the type now presently used on the'commercial models of the said Coe'Manufacturing-Company. A chain 83 has hollow pins (it andsuch-pins slidingly mount pins 65. On the main frame 66 of the machine are mounted the various switches 29 to 55 inclusive (only switches 29, 3D, 33, 34, 4|, 45, 52 and 53 being shown in Fig. 3). These switches 29 to 55 inclusive are stationary and their finger members 57 are positioned in the path of travel of pins 65'which have been urged inwardly. Thus the relative position of the switch mechanism the switches 28 to 55 inclusive will be changed when a pin 65 passing thereby has been urged inwardly, but the relative position of the switch mechanism of any switch will not be changed by pins which have not been urged inwardly. The chain ea travels synchronously with the veneer. The fingers and the chain are moving from right to left as appears in said drawings. A stop 61 extends the full length of the chain but only a fragment thereof is shown in Fig. 3 in orderto clarify the drawings. The operator urges ,a desired pin 65 against a stop 6'! to predetermine the location of the out. The pins 65 are at unit distances apart, such as 2". Any pin 65 which has been urged against the stop 61 by an operator will be moved inwardly by fixed cam 68. The fixed cam 68 has two cam surfaces 59 and H! which are disposed at an angle and thus a pin, such as the first one to the left in Fig. 3 (which has not been pushed inwardly by an operator), has its inner end traveling in one line oftravel while the trailing pin thereto has its inner end traveling in a second line of travel. Moving along with the chain 63 are cam bars H. These cam bars H have spaced depressing lugs I2. Spaced depressing lugs 12 on each cam bar ll cooperate with the knife depressing rollers 13 to actuate a desired knife of the clipper. The knife depressing rollers 73 have raised portions 14 and relatively lower portions 15. When the, cam bars are in the position of the first one to the left in Fi 3 of the drawings, then the knife depressing roller 13 does not depress a knife. However, when the trailing cam bar to the cam bar just mentioned is being moved inwardly by reason of its forward travel and the cam surface 69, then lugs 12 cooperate with the raised portion 14 so that a knife is urged through the veneer as the traveling knife passes under knife depressing roller 13.

Functionally considered, the only substantial difference between the structure in the present Coe Manufacturing Company clipper machine and the device illustrated in the patent to Haumann is that the pin and chain indicated and the cam fit supplant the chain and lug means employed to move the extension 61 and blades 59 disclosed in I-Iaumann (Figs. 4 and '7).

As the clipping mechanism per se is not involved in the present invention, only fragmentary parts of the clipper machines have been indicated. As will now appear, applicants invention can be employed in connection with any of the various types of clippers where we have a feed chain running synchronously with the veneer and where dogs, including levers, pawls, pins, and the like, are manually tripped by an operator to preselect the cut.

Now referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated a combination of the switches 29 to 55 inclusive in combination wtih a part of the mechanism disclosed in the said co-pending application wherein the applicant herein is one of 5 the inventors. A fragment of four groove-forming wheels '86 are shown in Fig. 4 of the'drawings and such parts are numbered 103 in said co-pending application. Also, there are shown four catches H which correspond to catches therein, solenoids I8, 19, and 8| which correspond to solenoids 72, 74, 76 and 78 therein. The lugs 82 correspond to the lugs 106 of said application. The grooves 83, 84, 85 and 86 correspond to the grooves 105, 115, 117 and 119 in said application. From this correlation of parts it will appear that whenever the solenoid T8 is energized it is energized in response to the cutting of a piece of usable stock which has a width from 8" to 14". If solenoid I9 is energized the piece being out has a width from 16" to 26"; if the solenoid 80 is energized we are cutting a piece of stock having a width from 28" to 40"; and if solenoid BI is energized we are cutting a piece having a width from 42" to 52". In the diagram of Fig. 4, no selection is being made as to whether we are cutting heart stock or sap stock. This additional feature will be discussed in connection with Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive.

Switch 29 (Fig. 4) normally open and is closed by reason of a pin t5 being in its inner or active position. The remaining switches 39 to 55 inclusive are two-position switches normally biased to a first position in which all of the switches are in series. The said switches are spring loaded so they resume their normal positions after a pin 55a passes but are moved, while being contacted with a pin, to a second position, as indicated. If the predetermined selection is that stock up to 6' shall go to scrap, then switches 30, 3| and will be either in series as indicated or we will have an open circuit whenever the switch position is changed by a passing pin 65 which is in its inner position. Thus if 8" to 14" stock is to be the first selection, then the movable contact blades of these switches 33 to 36, when the switches are moved inwardly, will connect with a common conductor 8'5. Similarly, switches 3'! to 92 inclusive are connected to the conductor 88; switches 43 to 49 inclusive are connected to the conductor 89; and switches 53 to 55 inclusive are connected to the common conductor 98 to provide for respective selections of 16" to 26", 28 to 40", and 42" to 52".

Commencing with a source of energy (conductor 9|) energy will pass through switch 29 whenever switch 29 is moved to its'closed position by reason of the position of a passing pin 55.

Energy will then pass through switches 29 to 55 inclusive unless there has been a change from the normal position of any switch in the series 39 to 55 inclusive which is caused by a passing inwardly projecting pin 65. In the drawings it has been indicated that switch a! has been closed by a passing inwardly projecting pin 65. Any of the switches 38 to inclusive might have been closed and thus closing of switch 4! is obviously merely an example. Tracing the circuit when switch 4! is closed, we commence with conductor 9!, which is a source of electrical energy. The energy passes through switch 2% as it is closed by a passing inwardly projecting pin 65 and continues in series through the various switches until we reach switch il. As switch M has been moved to its full line position by a passing pin E5, energy then passes along conductor 88 through solenoid i9 energizing the same and to the other source of energy, conductor 92. Closing of solenoid 79 re leases a lug 8'? so the same can travel with the groove 84. As set forth in the said co-pending application Serial Number 770,540, this will at a suitable time delay later operate suitable means on the out-bearing conveyor to deliver the piece of material in an appropriate bin or where-desired. Even if any of the switches 2 15055 are closed, thecircuit to=solenoids tfl or -8| .will be brokenbecause switch 4| moved-outof itsfirst position into its :second position, interrupting the flowof current to switches 42-55inclusive, but

completing the circuitlto conductor 88.

As the pins continue to move, the pin which moved the switch iii from its series :position to 'connection'witlrthe conductor SS-trips switch as.

At'the same time the'pin which closed switch 45 -.(as indicated in the-drawing) will-bet" behind the previously-mentioned pin and thus will-trip switch 33 at the same time that'its preceding pin is tripping'switch :29. At thistime we will have a'circuit: commencing with conductor ill through switches Eil-to :33 whicharein series, then to con- .duotori'i, as switch -33 has been moved out of series position into contact with the conductor 21, then through solenoicl l8, and then to conductor ii2the other source of energy. It thus will appear that the travelingpins will energize a suitable solenoid, such as solenoids it to 8! inclusive, and the one which is energized will be ,deterrninedbythe 1ength=ofeach of the consecu- -fiflto fit-and thelugs 82 therein, the switches 29 to -5li can=be placed anywhere along the line of travel ofthechain (except of course they must be located-before the wiperemployedin commercial installations to return the pins to their normal out-position) as suitableprovision can be made in synchronizing of the time delay mechanism to take care of the positions-of the switches. In other words, it is not necessary that the switch 29 operate at the eXact-timethat the material is being clipped.

It is thus seen that switch 29 constitutes a normally open master switch and that, to effect energizatiori of one of the electromagnetic actuators Ti, .switch zfi must be closed and one of the switches 33-55 inclusive must be in its second position. Thus simultaneous actuation ofspaced pairs of switches in theseries acts, through the circuit of 'Fig. 4, to energize an electromagnetic actuator H, the particular actuator energized depending upon the spacing of the simultaneously actuated switches. It will be noted that the conductors 9| and. 92 comprise a control circuit across which the parallel circuits 8'l90 may be selectively connected by actuation of a corresponding one of the secondary switches 33-55 from its first, or normal, position to its second position. As seen in Fig. 4, the second position contacts of a different group of the secondary switches are common to the parallel circuits; thus, simultaneous actuation of master switch 29 and any of the switches 3336 will energize solenoid #8, simultaneous actuation of switch 25 and any of the switches 3142 will energize the solenoid I9, and so forth. Thus, solenoid 1'8 is energized whenever a piece of veneer 8-14" in width is clipped, and the solenoid i9 is energized whenever a piece of veneer 16' '-26' in width is clipped.

Thus, 'each of the actuators I1 is operated "selectively in response to the clipping'of a given .size -(or arsize withina given range) of sheet, and as fully described .in the aforementioned copending application Serial Number 770,540,010- eration of each actuator Ti releases a switch operating 1ug-82 in adifferentone of the grooves If it-is desiredthat the first sorter conveyor (I I6, .Fig. 9) pick up all pieces of veneer 'a cut of he'art'stock or sap stock.

in the range of8"-l4" in width, then the electroresponsive'control member H9 for the conveyor Sis connected'to the switch H5 adjacent the groove 83andlinthe path of travel of thelugs -82 released by energization of the solenoid '18.

Similarly, if the second sorter conveyor (Hi, Fig.9) is-to pick up allpieces16-26" in width,

the control member I 20 for that conveyor is connected to that one of the switches H5 positioned adjacent the groove B4, so that operation .of the control member 120 will be efiectedin response to energization'of the solenoid l9,Fig.'4 Fig. 11 illustrates the general relation of in- .feeding conveyor A, clipper B and out-feeding conveyor C when the invention is applied'to a clipper of the type described in the aforementioned Patent 2,095,824. -The series of switches 29I55,icarried by frame'member'ifi, is supported adjacent the control chain '66, as 'by suitable frame members l30. 'The chain t0 extends alon beside the in-feeding conveyor A. The switches 29-55 are connected,through'the circuit shown in Fig. 4, to the electromagnetica'ctuatorsof the time delay means 16, which is driven in timed relation with the out-feeding .conveyor'C. The transferconveyors'suchas conveyor H6, are associated'with the out-"feeding conveyor C in the manner shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and are actuated by suitablepower means controlled by electrical means responding to the switching action of the time delay means 16, in the man- "nerhereinbefore described.

Regardless of whether the chain mechanism follows the disclosure of Fig. l, 2 or '3, we have the'sam'e switches involved and the samecircuits which have'been described in'Fig. 4. In the interestof brevity the same switch numbers have been used in Figs. 1 to 3 as'the description of Fig. 4 is equally applicable to Figs. 1 and 2 except that'themechanical type or dog employed involves the fingers N3 of Fig. l, the fingers El of'Fig. 2, andthe pins "65 of'Fig/S. Also, it is to'be understood thattheinvention is not limited 'tosuchtypeof dog means as the same are merely illustrative of a chain which is timed with the traveling veneer and which has lever or dog means which can beutilized to'operate switches '2 Std inclusive.

In Fig. '4 no provision was'madeto indicate If it is de-- sired tomake a selectionfor'various widthsof heart stock and also various widths of sap stock,

that is, to select according to both sizeand grade, then the embodiment of my invention indicated inFigsj5to '8'inclusive may be employed. This form of my'invention hasbeen illustrated for use in connection 'With'the pin chain type mechanism illustratedinFig. 3. Also, the means for carrying the pins is not illustrated and the pin chain is diagrammatically illustrated by a plurality of pins some'of which are in'their in position and some of 'which'are in their outposition. The pins are numbered 93 in Figs. 5

to '8 as the'construction thereof is slightly differentthan the-previously mentioned'pins. Referring to Figs. Giand 8, a portion of the head -94 of eachof'thepins 93 7w removed toprovide the fiattenedsurface 95. The hollow pins-98 replace the hollow .pins 64 and are :rigid with ing in and out and is in recess 91.

.links of the chain; A lot-like recess 91 is pro- .91 is such so that when the ball I99 rests. thereinone surface of the head 94,.as theflattened portion 95, is presented to pass under and not move the finger IIlI of the switch I92 (Fig. 8);.

The recess 98 is located so that when the ball I09 rests therein that a rounded portion ofthe head 94 travels in a path so that it will contact the trigger member I9! and movethe switch blade mechanism of switch I92 toits dotted line position of Fig. 5. Thus the switch .'I92.will have its blade normally in the full line position. of Fig. 5, is movable to its dotte'dline positionbf said figure by contact with a traveling pin. 93 and particularly a rounded portion of head 94, and-is spring mounted so that it can returnby its spring to its normal position nlso, the switch I92 is positioned so that'it'will'onlybe in the path of travel of pins 99 which have been manually urged inwardly.

All of the switches, with the exception of switch I92, are the same inboth Figs. 4 and '5 and hence are given similar numbers. There are shown four additional groove-formingwheels 16 in Fig. 5. The eight groove-forming wheels 16 and parts associated therewith permitthe selection of four widths of stock of sap stock and four widths of stock of heart stockll Thus all of the selections as set forth in the said Gopending application wherein the applicantis one of the inventors, are illustrated. Correlation between the parts illustrated in Fig. 5 herein to the parts illustrated in Fig. 4 of said 'co-pending application are: groove 93 herein corresponds to groove 104, groove I93 herein corresponds to groove 105, groove 84 herein corresponds to groove 114, groove I04 hereincorresponds to groove 115, groove 95 herein corrresponds to groove 116, groove I05 herein corresponds to groove. 117, groove 96 herein corresponds to groove 118, groove I99 herein, corresponds to groove 119, solenoid 18 herein corresponds to solenoid- 69, solenoid I91 herein. corresponds to solenoid '72, solenoid 19 herein corresponds to solenoid '13, solenoid I98 herein correspondsto solenoid '14, solenoid 89 herein corresponds to solenoid '75, solenoid I99 herein corresponds to solenoid '16, solenoid BI herein corresponds to solenoid '17, solenoid H herein corresponds to solenoid 78. The groove-forming wheels 16and the catches 11 are the same in both Figs. 4 and herein.

The operator, in manipulating the pins 93,

will either urge the desired one thereof merely inwardly or will also angularly move them de'- pending on whether he is cutting heart or sap stock. The switch I92 is positioned so that the flattened surfaces95 of the pins 93, when up and in, pass under and do not operate the switch I02, and the rounded portions of head 9;, when up and in, move switch I92 from;its full line to its dotted line position of Fig. 5. Ifthereis more heart stock than sap stockthe recesses 91 should be located so that the angular position of the surface 95 when in and not operating switch IE2 will obtain when the ball I90 is slid- The recess 91 will insure. that all pins will retain one given position and the recess 98 will determine another given position of angular movement-of the heads I91 to H0 inclusive.

of head portions 94 which are intheir inward position. Also this wiper is disposed in said path after switch I92. The, wiper causes all heads 94 to retain or assume given position turning some which are not in the desired angular position and not turning the others already in the desired position,

In Fig. 5101 the drawings the parts which are similar to Fig. 4 are given similar numbers to eliminate unnecessary repetition of description "and to incorporate at this point the previous description. v.Also the conductors 31, 88, 89 and 90 are connected respectively to solenoids I01 to H9. -,The.solenoids E01 to H9 are connected to a conductor Hip Thus a selected solenoid 18 .to 8| (these are indicated as being energized when the operator is cutting sap stock) will be energized in accordance with the pins 93 which the operator depresses providing the round surface of the head 9-! is in a position to move the blade mechanism of switch I92 from its full line position to its, dotted line position of Fig; 5. If the face 95 is up and is passing the switch I02 then the switch I92 will remain in its normal position and the conductor III will be energized from the source so as to keep the circuit to a solenoid of the group I91 to H9 inclusive depending upon the spacing between a pin 93 adjacent a switch 29 and the next succeeding depressed pin- I In manipulating the pins 93, the form shown requires that the pin at the leading edge of a piece of stock should be angularly positioned as to whether the piece is heart or sap. Also if a head 94 is to be turned it should be turned counter clockwise as respects the showing of Fig.8.

If a selection is to be made both for the type of stock (sap or heart) as well as to the width of a piece of stock, then the operator must manipulate some means at the time he preselects the out which will later be reflected in the operation of the solenoids 18 to 8I inclusive and In the present example I have indicated the use of both ends of the traveling pins, one to operate the switch mechanisms to determine selection as to width of the piece, and the other switch mechanism to be operated bya flattened face on the other end of the pin to determine heart or sap stock selection. Obviously, other mechanical expedients, such as two chains, one for heart stock and one .for sap stock, pins that are depressable to two difierent levels, pins carrying lugs which are slidable into and out of desired paths, can all be employed. Thus, it is to be understood that the particular pins of Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are meremy inven- From the foregoing descriptionv of Fig. '5 of the drawings and with consideration of the parts incorporated from previous figures, it is believed that the operation of the structure of Figs. 5 to 8 will be readily apparent to'those skilled in this art.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the abovesetting forth only preferred 171 in succession from said clipper, a plurality of successive transfer conveyors each movable between an inoperativeposition and an operative position relative to said out-bearing conveyor, a plurality of electrically controlled power means each arranged to move one of said transfer conveyors, a movable control member synchronized with said infeeding conveyor, said control mem ber. including a plurality of actuating elements spaced therealongand each movable between an active and an inactive position, clipper control means positioned adjacent said movable control member. and past which said actuating elements pass in succession as said. control member is moved, said clipper control means beingso constructed andarranged as to be actuated only by suchof saidactuating elements as are in active position as theypass thereby, a seriesof control switches arrangedalong the line of travel of .said movable control member and. eachv having an operating member biased. into. the path of travel of. said. actuating elements. when the elements arein active position, aplurality of actuating circuitseach connected to control onev of said transfer conveyor. power means and each in-- cluding an/actuating switch, a plurality of time delay means each arranged to operate one of saidlactuating switches and each responsive to the action of an electro-responsive actuator, and circuitmeansfor. selectively energizing said elec tro-responsive actuators in response to simultaneous actuation. of. different spaced pairs of said control switches;

2. Ina sheet clipping and classifying appa ratus, the .combinationof asheet clipper, an infeeding conveyor arranged to deliver a continuone sheet. to; said clipper an out-bearing conveyor arranged-to receive. individual sheets in succession fromsaid. clipper,,a.plu-rality of successive transferv conveyors .eaclrmovable between an inoperative position-andan operativ position relative. to said out-bearing conveyor, aplurality of electrically controlled power means. each arrangedto. vmove one of. said' transfer conveyors, a movable control member synchronized. with said in-feeding conveyor said' control member includinga plurality ofactuating dogs spaced therealong and each movable. between an active andan inactive position, clipper controlmeans positioned adjacent said movable control memberandpast which said. actuating dogs pass. in succession as said control memberis moved, said clipper controlmeans being so constructedand arranged as tobe actuated. only by suchofsaid dogs as are inactive position. as. they passthere by, a controljcircuit, a series of. control switches arranged adjacent theline of travel of said movable control member and each having an operatingmember biasedv into. the path of travel of said'dogs when. theidogsare in activepositiom.

said series including aprimary control switch and aplurality of twoepositioned secondary-,con-

.trolswitches; a plurality of actuatin circuits each connected to operate one of said transfer conveyor power meansandeach including an,-v actuating switch; a plurality of time delaymeans each arranged-to operate one of. saidactuating switches and each including an electro-responsive actuating device, andzaaplurality: of circuit means each connecting one of said: electrcactuated.

. 3;; In a sheet clipping andclassifying apparatus, the combination or a sheetclipper; an in-feeding conveyor arranged-to deliver a continuous sheet to said clipper; an out-bearing conveyor arranged to receive individual; sheets in succession from, said c1ipper; a plurality of successive transfer conveyors eachmovablebetween an inoperative position and an operative position relative to said out-bearing conveyor; a plurality ofelectrically controlled power means each arranged to move one of said transfer conveyors; an endless'movableccntrol member extending adjacent said. in-feeding conveyorand synchronized therewith, said'control member including a, plurality of actuating dogs spaced therealong and eachmovable between an active and an inactive position; clipper control means positioned adjacent said endless movable control member and past which said actuating-dogs pass in succession as said controlmember is moved, said clipper control means being so constructed andarranged as to be actuated only by such'of said dogs as are in active position-as they'pass thereby; a control circuit; a plurality of parallel circuits; a series of control switches arranged adjacent the line of travelof' said movable controlmember, each of said control'switcheshaving an operating member biased into the path of travel of said dogs when the dogs are inactive' position, said series including" a. normally open primary control switch' actuatable by its operating member to closed position and'a plurality of two-position secondary control-switches each normally biased to a first position but actuatable by its operating member to a second position, said primary control switch-being located adjacent th 'delivery end of said"in-feeding conveyor andsaid secondary control switches being spaced'back' along said conveyor, said primary control switch being connected in series in said control circuit and each or" said secondary control switches being arranged to connect one of said parallel circuits across said control circuit when in said'secondposition and to interrupt such connection when in said first position; a plurality of actuating circuits-each connected to operate one of said transfer conveyorpower means and each including an actuating switch, and a" plurality of time delay 'means each arranged to operate one of said actuating switches, each-of saidtime delay means including an electro-responsive actuating device connectedin .one

' of said parallel circuits.

" sorter means includinga'plurality of electrically controlledpower means for selectively operating said sortermeans, an endlessmovable con- .trol member arranged beside said in-feeding conveyor and synchronized therewith, said'control member including a plurality of actuating elements spaced therealong' at equal intervals and each movable between anactiveandan inactive position, aseries of control switches arranged along the'line'of travel of said control member and spaced at intervals" equal to the spacing of saidactuating elements, each of said switches" having an operating member biased into the path of travel of said'a'ctuating elements when the'elements are'in active position, aplurality of actuating circuits each connected" to control one of said power means-andeach includingan actuating switch,- a-plurality of time delay means each-arranged to operate one of said actuating switches and each"responsive--to theaction of an electro-responsive actuator, and

circuit means for selectively energizing said electro-rcsponsive actuators in response to simultrol member arranged beside said in-feeding conveyor and synchronized therewith, said control member including a plurality of actuating elements spaced therealong at equal intervals and each movable between an active and an inactive position, a series of control switches including a masterswitch and a plurality of secondary switches, said switches being arranged along th path of travel of said control member with said master switch adjacent the delivery. end thereof and said. secondary switches spaced back therealong at intervals equal to the spacing of said actuating elements, each of said switches having an operating member biased into the path of travel of said actuating elements when the elements are in active position, a plurality of actuating circuits each connected to control one of said power means and each including an actuating switch, a plurality of time delay means each arranged to operate one of said actuating switches and each responsive to energization of an electro-responsive actuator, and circuit means for selectively energizing said electro-responsive actuators each in response to simultaneous actuation of said master'switch and one of a different predetermined group of said secondary switches.

6. In a sheet clipping and classifying apparatus, the combination of a sheet clipper, an infeeding conveyor arranged to deliver a continuous sheet to said cliper, an out-bearing conveyor arranged to receive individual sheets in succes sion from said clipper, a plurality of successive transfer conveyors each movable between an inoperative position and an operative position relative to said out-bearing conveyor, a plurality of electrically controlled power means each arranged to move one of said transfer conveyors, a movable control member synchronized with said in-feeding conveyor, said control member including a plurality of actuating element spaced therealong and each movable between an active and an inactive position, clipper control means positioned adjacent said control member and past which said actuating elements pass in succession as said control member moves, said clipper control means being arranged to be actuated by only such of said actuating elements as are in active position as they pass thereby,

" a plurality of actuating circuits each connected to control one of said transfer conveyor power means and each including an actuating switch,

- a plurality of time delay means each arranged References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,841,426 Ballette Jan. 19, 1932 1,883,047 Spire Oct. 18, 1932 2,609,874 Pedron Sept. 9, 1952 

